Aurora this November voters will decide whether to retain or repeal a ban on pit bulls breeds.

A ‘yes’ vote means repealing the city’s restricted breed ban, allowing residents to own American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier dogs. 

A ‘no’ vote means keeping the ban, which restricts residents from owning the aforementioned dog breeds.

Back in 2005, the City Council passed an ordinance that banned the dog breed except in instances where the city issued a license. Then in 2010, the city updated the ordinance to reduce the number of prohibited pit bull breeds and grant exceptions for service dogs.

Four years later, councilmembers considered an ordinance to repeal the ban but ultimately referred the decision to voters. In the November 2014 election, voters rejected the ordinance, with only 35.6% voting yes — meaning the ban stayed in place.

Then two years ago, the council repealed that ban.

In May 2021, Aurora resident Matthew Snider filed a complaint in court against the city, asserting that in passing an ordinance retracting the ban after voters said they wanted it, the council overrode their will.

In March, 18th Judicial District Court Judge Elizabeth Beebe Volz sided with Snider, ruling that the city’s charter and code require “that once an ordinance has been submitted to the voters by way of resolution or referendum, the subject ordinance cannot be revived, repealed, amended or passed except by electoral vote.”

Since the city didn’t put its decision to repeal the ban up for another vote, Volz declared that the repeal is void.